2009

Cedar Park, TX – The Dallas Stars announced on Tuesday that the club has agreed to terms with forward Raymond Sawada on a one-year, two-way contract. The Texas Stars also announced the team Sawada.gifhas agreed to terms with right wing Nick Layton on an AHL contract (SPC – Standard Player Contract).

Sawada played in 57 games last season for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League (AHL), posting career highs in points (29), goals (11) and assists (18), to go along with 91 penalty minutes. During the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs, Sawada led the Stars with five assists and finished second on the team with six points in six games. In two seasons, Sawada has played in 117 games with Texas, scoring 19 goals and adding 29 assists for 48 points (7th all-time). He is second on the Texas Stars all-time list with 183 penalty minutes.

The 6-2, 207-pound right wing from Richmond, B.C. appeared in one NHL game last season with Dallas. He missed nine games from Feb. 5 – Feb. 24 with a shoulder injury suffered against the Boston Bruins on Feb. 3.

Dallas’ second round selection (52nd overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Sawada scored eight times, totaled 19 points and 92 penalty minutes with Texas during the 2009-10 season, helping the team reach the Calder Cup Finals. He skated in every playoff game for the club and collected eight points (3g, 5a) with 20 penalty minutes.

Over his three-year pro career, Sawada has played in 11 NHL games with the Dallas Stars, scoring one goal. He has played the majority of his young career in the AHL suiting up a total of 179 times between Texas and Manitoba. In all, Sawada has 27 career goals and 51 assists for a total of 78 points, to go along with 228 penalty minutes.

Prior to his professional career, Sawada played four seasons at Cornell University, scoring 76 points (31g, 45a) with 131 penalty minutes in 137 career games.

In a separate move, the Texas Stars agreed to terms with Nick Layton. Layton turned pro after playing the 2009-10 season at the University of New Brunswick, posting three goals and six points in 18 games played. In 2010-11, Layton joined the CHL’s Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs for their playoff run. The right wing played in 20 playoff games, scoring seven goals and totaling 17 points to help the Mudbugs win the CHL’s Miron Cup.

The Texas Stars will host Opening Night at Cedar Park Center on Sunday, October 9th. The complete 2011-12 American Hockey League season will be announced later this summer.

2011-12 season seat packages are on sale now. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets, suites, group tickets or mini-plans may call the Texas Stars front office.